Navigating the OMB Super Circular &
CSBG Standards from a Legal Perspective
Region 8 & 10 Conference
May 13, 2014
Eleanor Evans, Esq.
CAPLAW
(617) 357-6915
eleanor.evans@caplaw.org
www.caplaw.org
© 2014 Community Action Program Legal Services, Inc.
Navigating the OMB Super Circular
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What Is the Super Circular?
• Office of Management and Budget uniform guidance
that supersedes
– Grant administrative circulars A-110 and A-102
– Cost principle circulars A-122, A-87, A-21
– Audit circulars A-133 and A-50
– Circular A-89 (catalogue of federal financial assistance)
• Codified at 2 C.F.R. Part 200
• Each federal agency will adopt by regulation
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What Was the Process?
• Feb. 28, 2012 Advance Notice of Proposed Guidance
• Feb. 1, 2013 Notice of Proposed Guidance
• Comment period
• Final guidance issued Dec. 26, 2013
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When Will It Go into Effect?
• Federal agencies have 6 months from Dec. 26, 2013 to release
regulations based on 2 C.F.R. Part 200
• Federal agencies must implement Super Circular by
promulgating regs to be effective by Dec. 26, 2014
• Super Circular will apply to new awards and additional
funding to existing awards made after Dec. 26, 2014
• Audit requirements will apply to audits of fiscal years that
start on or after Dec. 26, 2014
• OMB plans to publish the 2014 Single Audit Compliance
supplement in April 2014
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Subpart A - Definitions
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200.69 Non-Federal Entity
• A state, local government, Indian tribe, institution of
higher education (IHE), or nonprofit organization
that carries out a federal award as a recipient or
subrecipient
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200.74 Pass-Through Entity
• A non-federal entity that provides a subaward to a
subrecipient to carry out part of a federal program
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200.86 Recipient
• A non-federal entity that receives a federal award
directly from a federal awarding agency to carry out
an activity under a federal program
• The term recipient does not include subrecipients
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200.93 Subrecipient
• A non-federal entity that receives a subaward from a
pass-through entity to carry out part of a federal
program
• A subrecipient may also be a recipient of other
federal awards directly from a federal awarding
agency
• Does not include an individual who is a beneficiary of
a federal program
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200.35 Fixed Amount Awards
• A grant award where funding source provides a
specific level of support without regard to actual
costs incurred. This is a performance and resultsoriented grant.
• Rules concerning fixed amount awards are in §
200.201 and § 200.332
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The Word “Should”
• Not in the definitions
• “Should” in the in regulations indicates a best practice
suggestion
• The FAQ released by Council on Federal Assistance Reform
(COFAR) on Feb. 12, 2014 explain that the word “should”,
which is used throughout the regulations, does not signify
“must.” Grantees are not necessarily required to comply with
these recommendations.
• Link to 2/14/14 COFAR FAQ: https://cfo.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2013/01/2-C.F.R.-200-FAQs-2-12-2014.pdf
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Subpart B - General Provisions
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200.100 Purpose
• Federal awarding agencies must not impose
additional or inconsistent requirements
– Except as provided in 200.102 (Exceptions) and 200.210
(Information contained in a federal award) or unless
specifically required by a federal statute, regulation or
Executive Order
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200.101 Applicability
• Super Circular requirements apply to federal agencies that
make federal awards to non-federal entities
• Terms and conditions of federal awards (including Super
Circular) flow down to subawards to subrecipients unless a
particular section of the Super Circular or the terms and
conditions of the federal award specifically indicate otherwise
– Nonfederal entities must comply with Super Circular regardless of
whether they are recipients or subrecipients
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200.101 Applicability (cont.)
• Pass-through entities must comply with:
– § 200.330 – Subrecipient and contractor determinations
– § 200.331 – Requirements for pass-through entities
– § 200.332 – Fixed amount subawards
• But they are not required to comply with any requirements in
Super Circular directed towards federal awarding agencies
unless Super Circular or terms and conditions of federal
award require otherwise
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200.101 Applicability (cont.)
• These provisions
– § 200.202 – Requirement to provide public notice of
federal financial assistance programs
– § 200.330 – Subrecipient and contractor determinations
– § 200.331 – Requirements for pass-through entities
– § 200.332 – Fixed amount subawards
are the only Super Circular provisions that apply to
the following programs:
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200.101 Applicability (cont.)
• Block grants authorized under Omnibus Reconciliation Act of
1981, including:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
CSBG
LIHEAP
Social Services
Preventive Health and Health Services
Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Services
Maternal and Child Health Services
States’ program of CDBG awards for small cities
Elementary and Secondary Education
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation
Mental Health Service for the Homeless
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200.101 Applicability (cont.)
• Federal awards authorized under the Child Care and
Development Block Grant Act of 1990
– Child Care and Development Block Grant
– Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds of the Child Care and
Development Fund
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200.101 Applicability (cont.)
• Only § 200.202 (Requirement to provide public notice of
federal financial assistance programs) applies to:
– Entitlement programs, such as:
• Medicaid
• TANF
• Child and Adult Care Food Program
• Summer Food Service Program for Children
• Commodity Assistance
– Non-discretionary federal awards under the following programs:
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and
Children (WIC)
• The Emergency Food Assistant Programs
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program
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200.102 Exceptions
• Except for Subpart F – Audit Requirements, OMB
may grant exceptions for classes of federal awards or
non-federal entities subject to the requirements of
the Super Circular, when not prohibited by statute,
but will do so only in unusual circumstances
• Federal awarding agency or cognizant agency for
indirect costs may authorize exceptions on a case-bycase basis except where otherwise required by law
or where OMB or other approval required
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200.102 Exceptions (cont.)
• Federal awarding agency may apply more restrictive
requirements to a class of federal awards or nonfederal entities when approved by OMB, required by
federal statutes or regulations except for
requirements of Subpart F – Audit Requirements
• Federal awarding agency may apply less restrictive
requirements when making fixed amount awards
except for requirements imposed by statute or in
Subpart F – Audit Requirements
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200.102 Exceptions (cont.)
• OMB will approve new strategies for federal awards
on a case-by-case basis when proposed by the
federal awarding agency in accordance with OMB
guidance to develop additional evidence relevant to
addressing important policy challenges or to
promote cost-effectiveness in and across federal
programs
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200.105 Effect on Other Issuances
• All federal agency administrative requirements,
program manuals, handbooks and other nonregulatory materials that are inconsistent with the
requirements of the Super Circular will be
superseded upon implementation of Super Circular
by the federal agency
– Except as required by statute or authorized as an
exception by OMB
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200.108 Inquiries
• Federal agencies are to direct inquiries to OMB
• Non-federal entities are to direct inquires to their
federal awarding agency, cognizant agency for
indirect costs, cognizant or oversight agency for
audit, or pass-through entity as appropriate
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200.109 Review Date
• OMB will review the Super Circular at least every 5
years after Dec. 26, 2013
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200.212 Conflicts of Interest
• The funding source must establish conflict of interest
policies for federal awards
• Grantees must disclose any potential conflicts in
writing to the federal awarding agency or passthrough entity (e.g., state) in accordance with
federal awarding agency policy
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200.113 Mandatory Disclosures
• Non-federal entity or applicant for federal award
must disclose, in a timely manner, in writing to the
federal awarding agency or pass-through entity, all
violations of federal criminal law involving fraud,
bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting
the federal award
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Subpart C - Pre-Award Requirements
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200.203 Notice of Funding Opportunities
• Requires standard format for funding
announcements
• Requires funding source specify criteria and process
to be used in evalauting applications
• Funding opportunities must generally be open for at
least 60 days, and never less than 30 days
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200.204 & 200.205
Review of Merit and Risk
• For competitive awards, federal awarding agency
must use review applications based on merit
• Federal awarding agency must also review risks
associated with a potential award
– Must review info available through OMB-designated
repositories of governmentwide eligibility information
(e.g., Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity
Information System, Dun and Bradstreet, and “Do Not
Pay”)
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200.207 Specific Conditions
• Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may impose
specific conditions based on federal awarding agency review
of risk posed by applicants, when an applicant or recipient has
a history of failure to comply with terms and conditions of
federal award, or failure to meet expected performance
goals, or is not otherwise responsible
• Section provides non-exhaustive list of examples of specific
conditions (e.g., requiring reimbursements rather than
advances, more detailed financial reports, or T&TA)
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200.207 Specific Conditions (cont.)
• Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity must notify
applicant or non-federal entity:
–
–
–
–
–
Nature of additional requirements
Reason why they are being imposed
Action needed to remove them, if applicable
Time allowed for completing those actions
Method for requesting reconsideration of additional requirements
• Any special conditions must be promptly removed once the
conditions that prompted them have been corrected
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200.208 Certifications and
Representations
• Generally certifications and representations are to
be submitted on an annual basis, however
submission may be required more frequently if the
non-federal entity fails to meet an a award
requirement
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200.211 Public Access to Federal
Award Info
• All applicable federal awards must be announced
publicly and published on a publicly available
designated government website
• As of now this information will be on
www.usaspending.gov
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Subpart D - Post-Award Requirements
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200.301 Performance Measurement
• When applicable, recipients must provide cost
information to demonstrate cost effective practices
(e.g., through unit cost data)
• Recipients’ performance should be measured in a
way that will help the federal awarding agency and
other non-federal entities to improve program
outcomes, share lessons learned, and spread the
adoption of promising practices
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200.302 Financial Management
• Emphasizes that state and other non-federal entities’ financial
management systems, including records documenting
compliance with federal statutes, regulations and award
terms and conditions, must be sufficient to permit the
preparation of required reports and tracing of funds to a level
of expenditures adequate to establish that funds have been
used according to federal statutes, regs and award terms and
conditions
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200.302 Financial Management (cont.)
• Among other things, non-federal entity’s financial
management system must provide for identification, in its
accounts, of all federal awards received and expended and
the federal programs under which they were received
– Federal program and federal award identification must include, as
applicable, CFDA title and number, federal award ID number and year,
name of the federal agency, and name of the pass-through entity, if
any
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200.303 Internal Controls
• Non-federal entities must:
– Establish and maintain effective internal control that
provides reasonable assurance that they are managing
federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regs
and award terms and conditions
• Internal controls should comply with “Standards for Internal
Control in the Federal Government” (U.S. Comptroller General)
and “Internal Control Integrated Framework” (Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, or COSO)
– Comply with and evaluate and monitor their compliance
with federal statutes, regs and award terms and conditions
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200.303 Internal Controls (cont.)
• Non-federal entities must:
– Take prompt action when instances of noncompliance are
identified including noncompliance identified in audit
findings
– Take reasonable measures to safeguard protected
personally identifiable information and other designated
sensitive information.
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200.79 Personally Identifiable
Information (PII)
• Information that can be used to distinguish or trace
an individual’s identity, either alone or when
combined with other personal or identifying
information that is linked or linkable to a specific
individual ….
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200.305 Payment
• Similar to current rules, except non-federal entities
now permitted to retain up to $500 per year in
interest on advances
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200.306 Cost Sharing or Matching
• Shared costs, matching funds and contributions must
be accepted as part of non-federal entity’s cost
sharing or matching when various criteria are met,
including:
– They are not paid by the federal government under
another federal award, except where the federal statute
authorizing a program specifically provides that federal
funds made available for such program can be applied to
matching or cost sharing requirements of other federal
programs
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200.311 and 200.329 Real Property
• Except as otherwise provided by federal statutes or
by the federal awarding agency, encumbering title of
real property not permitted. See § 200.311.
• Grantee must submit a report at least annually on
the status of real property in which the federal
government has an interest. Where the interest
extends 15 years or more the funding source may
allow reporting at various multiyear frequencies. See
§ 200.329.
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200.313 Equipment
• Equipment may be encumbered with prior approval
• Disposition instructions are needed only if required
by the terms of the award. Otherwise items of
equipment with a current per-unit FMV of $5000 or
less may be retained, sold, or disposed of with no
further obligation to the federal awarding agency
• Rules on disposition on higher valued equipment are
similar to current rules
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200.94 Supplies
• All tangible personal property other than that
defined as “Equipment”
• A computing device is a supply if the acquisition cost
is less than the lesser of the capitalization level
established by the non-federal entity for financial
statement purposes or $5,000, regardless of the
length of its useful life
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200.318 General Procurement
Standards
• Grantees are required to maintain written standards of
conduct that cover conflicts of interest. Conflict of interest
policy must also cover parent, affiliate, and subsidiary.
• Grantees also encouraged to enter into state/local
intergovernmental or inter-entity agreements to share goods
and services.
• Records must also detail the history of procurement and the
rationale for the method of procurement, selection of
contract type, contractor selection/rejection, and basis for
contract price.
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200.319 Competition
• All procurement transactions must be conducted in a
manner providing full and open competition
– But cost or price analysis no longer required for every
procurement transaction
• May not apply state or local geographic preferences,
except where required or encouraged by federal
statute
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200.320 Methods of Procurement
• Rules now outline specific methods of procurement
and requirements for each method:
– Micro-purchases for $0 - $3000
– Small purchases for Simplified Acquisition Threshold of
$150,000 or less. Price and rate quotes must be obtained.
– Sealed bids
– Competitive proposals
– Non-competitive proposals (sole source)
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200.67 Micropurchase
• A purchase of supplies or services using simplified
acquisition procedures, the aggregate amount of
which does not exceed the micro-purchase threshold
• Threshold set by 48 C.F.R. Subpart 2.1 (Definitions in
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR))
• Currently $3,000, but adjusted periodically for
inflation
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200.88 Simplified Acquisition
Threshold
• The dollar amount below which a non-federal entity
may purchase property or services using small
purchase methods
• Non-federal entities adopt small purchase
procedures in order to expedite the purchase of
items costing less than the simplified acquisition
threshold
• Set by 48 C.F.R. Subpart 2.1 (Definitions for FAR)
• Currently $150,000, but adjusted periodically for
inflation
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Procurement Standards
• Cost or price analysis is required for any procurement in
excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold ($150,000). See
§ 200.323(a)
• Non-federal entity must take all necessary affirmative steps
to assure that minority businesses, women’s business
enterprises and labor surplus firms are used when possible.
See § 200.320
– Current A-110 language requires “positive efforts”
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Procurement Standards
• Profit must be negotiated as a separate element of the price
for each contract in which there is no price competition and
in all cases where cost analysis is performed (sealed bids,
competitive proposals, and non-competitive procurement) .
See § 200.323(b)
• Non-federal entity must make certain information and
records regarding its procurement procedures available to the
federal awarding agency or pass-through entity upon request
for pre-procurement review. See § 200.324.
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200.331 Requirements for PassThrough Entities
• Pass-through entities must ensure that every subaward is
clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and
includes certain specified information at time of the
subaward and to notify subrecipient of any changes in a
subaward modification
• Notably, required info includes (among other things):
– An approved federally recognized indirect cost rate negotiated
between the subrecipient and the federal government, or if no such
rate exists, either a rate negotiated between the pass-through entity
and the subrecipient or a de minimis indirect cost rate
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200.414(f)
De Minimis Indirect Cost Rate
• Any non-federal entity that has never received a
negotiated indirect cost rate may elect to charge a
de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs
which may be used indefinitely
• If chosen, must be used consistently for all federal
awards until the non-federal entity chooses to
negotiate for a rate, which it may do at any time
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200.68 Modified Total Direct Costs
• All direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits,
materials and supplies, services, travel, and subawards and
subcontracts up to the first $25K of each subaward or
subcontract (regardless of the period of subawards and
subcontracts under the award)
• Does not include equipment, capital expenditures, … rental
costs, … and the portion of each subaward and subcontract
that exceeds $25K
• Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a
serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with
the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs
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200.331 Requirements for PassThrough Entities (cont.)
• Pass-through entities also required to:
– Evaluate subrecipient’s risk of noncompliance for purposes
of determining appropriate subrecipient monitoring
– Consider imposing specific subaward conditions if
appropriate
– Monitor subrecipient’s activities as necessary to ensure it
is used for authorized purposes and in compliance with
federal statutes, regs and terms and conditions of
subaward, and that performance goals are achieved
(suggests certain monitoring tools, such as T&TA, onsite
reviews etc.)
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200.331 Requirements for PassThrough Entities (cont.)
• Pass-through entities also required to:
– Verify that every subrecipient is audited as required by
Subpart F – Audit Requirements where subrecipient’s
federal awards expended during a fiscal year exceed audit
threshold
– Consider whether results of subrecipient’s audits, on-site
reviews or other monitoring indicate conditions that
necessitate adjustments to pass-through entity’s records
– Consider taking enforcement action against noncompliant
subrecipients
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Record Retention and Access
• Electronic storage of records is now permitted and
encouraged. When original records are electronic and cannot
be altered there is no need to create and retain paper copies.
See § 200.335.
• No federal awarding agency may place restrictions on the
non-federal entity that limit public access to the records of
the non-federal entity pertinent to a federal award, except for
PII and certain other situations. See § 200.337.
• Period for which federal agencies may disallow costs after
award closeout is now limited to the 3-year record retention
period. See § 200.344.
– But federal government may collect amounts due to it at
any time. See § 200.345.
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Enforcement and Appeals
• Federal awarding agency and pass-through entity
remedies for noncompliance specified in § 200.33
• Circumstances in which award may be terminated
(including by pass-through entity) specified in §
200.339
• Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity
must comply with any requirements for hearings,
appeals or other administrative proceedings to
which the non-federal entity is entitled under any
statute or regulation applicable to the action
involved. See § 200.341
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Subpart E – Cost Principles
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200.400 Policy Guide
• Awardees responsible for:
– Administering award efficiently and effectively using sound
management practices
• Recognition of each entities unique combination of staff, facilities
and experience
– Complying with funding source requirements
– Maintaining internal accounting policies and practices
consistent with cost principles
– Supporting costs charged with adequate documentation
– Not earning or keeping any profit unless expressly
authorized by award terms & conditions
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Cost Principles:
Basic Considerations
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200.405 Allocable Costs
• Still may not shift costs to overcome funding
deficiencies or avoid restrictions; however, costs
that are allowable under two or more federal awards
may be shifted if permitted by existing federal
statutes, regulations or award terms and conditions
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200.405 Allocable Costs
• Direct cost allocation principles:
– If a cost benefits two or more projects or activities:
• in determinable proportions, cost should be allocated based
on proportional benefit
• in non-determinable proportions, costs may be allocated or
transferred on any reasonable documented basis
– Equipment or other capital assets costs are assignable to
the authorizing federal award regardless of the use when
no longer needed for original purposes
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200.407 Prior Written Approval
• Now grouping of all prior approval requirements in
one regulation
• Absence of prior approval will not affect
reasonableness or allocability determination unless
prior approval was specifically required
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200.411 Adjustment of Previously NICR
Containing Unallowable Costs
• Generally, unallowable costs included in NICR must
be adjusted and/or a refund made:
• Not a reopening of the rate negotiation
• Future – unallowable costs removed, rates adjusted
• Past – cash refund (including interest) issued
• If provisional or fixed rates, adjustments will be made when
rates finalized
• Current – adjustment made or refund issued
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200.413 Direct Costs
• Salaries of administrative and clerical staff will be
treated as indirect (F&A) costs
• Direct charging allowed if:
• Costs integral to a project or activity;
• Individuals involved specifically identified with the project
or activity;
• Costs explicitly included in budget or prior written
approval received; and
• Costs not recovered as indirect
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200.414 Indirect (F&A) Costs
• Negotiated rates must be accepted by all Federal
awarding agencies
– Different rates permitted only when required by Federal
law or approved by Federal agency
– Must notify OMB of approved deviations
– Federal agency must make publicly available deviation
policies, procedures and general decision-making criteria
– Notice of funding opportunities must include indirect cost
rate reimbursement, matching or cost share policies
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200.414 Indirect (F&A) Costs
• If never received NICR may elect to charge a de
minimis 10% rate and use indefinitely
– Methodology must be used consistently for all federal
awards until choose to negotiate which may do at any time
• If have NICR, may apply for one time extension for up
to four years
– Extension subject to review and approval
– May not request rate review until end of extension period
– Must re-apply to negotiate rate
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Pass-through Entity
• A non-federal entity that provides a subaward to a
subrecipient to carry out part of a federal program, §
200.74
• Pass-through entities must provide subrecipients with
certain specified information, including (among other
things):
– An approved federally NICR between the subrecipient and the
federal gov't, or if no such rate exists, either a rate negotiated
between the pass-through entity and the subrecipient or a de
minimis indirect cost rate, § 200.331(a)(4)
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200.415 Required Certifications
• Expenditure certification required to assure
payments are proper and in accordance with:
– Award terms and conditions
– Approved project budgets
– Annual and final fiscal reports or vouchers requesting
payment under the agreement
• Must be signed by an official authorized to legally
bind entity
• Sample certification language included in regulation
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200.415 Required Certifications
• Cost allocation plan or indirect cost rate proposal
certification must be:
– Maintained on file
– On forms in the appendices
– Signed by an individual no lower than VP or CFO
• If don’t elect 10% rate or submit a certified rate or
plan proposal, Federal gov’t may disallow all indirect
costs or unilaterally establish a plan or rate
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Cost Principles:
Selected Items of Cost
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200.421 Advertising and Public
Relations
• Includes program outreach as an allowable
advertising cost
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200.425 Audit Services
• Unallowable audit services costs include audits:
– Not conducted in accordance with Single Audit
requirements and
– That fall below the Single Audit threshold
• Costs of financial statement audits, when don't
currently have a federal award, may be included in
indirect cost proposal or cost allocation plan’s
indirect cost pool
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200.425 Audit Services
• Pass-through entities may charge for cost of agreedupon-procedures to monitor subrecipients exempted
from Single Audit Act as long as:
– Conducted in accordance with GAGAS,
– Paid for and arranged by pass-through entity, and
– Limited in scope to one or more of the following:
• Activities allowed or unallowed,
• Allowable costs/cost principles,
• Eligibility, and
• Reporting
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200.428 Collections of Improper
Payments
• Costs incurred to recover improper payments are
allowable as either direct or indirect costs, as
appropriate
• Amounts collected may be used in accordance with
cash management standards set forth in § 200.305
discussing payments
– §200.305 addresses minimizing the time elapsing between the
transfer of funds
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200.430 Compensation – Personal
Services
• Additional allowability requirement for
compensation: appointment (hire) must be made in
accordance with the entity’s rules and policies and
any applicable federal laws
• Removal of language requiring prior approval from
awarding agency for overtime, extra-shift and multishift premiums payments
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200.430 Compensation – Personal
Services
• Outside employment for professional services analysis:
– Must follow written outside employment policies for
professional services
– If none exist or fail to adequately define permissible extent of
work, federal gov’t may require work on federal awards
allocated between non-federal activities and non
organizational professional activities
• If arrangement deemed excessive or inconsistent with award
COI terms and conditions, awarding agency will negotiate
arrangements on a case-by-case basis
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200.430 Compensation – Personal
Services
• Charges must be based on records accurately reflecting
work performed
• If meet following standards, no additional documentation
required:
– Supported by system of internal control
– Incorporated in official records
– Reasonably reflect the total compensated activity
– Encompass all activities – federal and non federal
– Comply with established accounting practices and policies
– Support distribution of employee’s salary among specific
activities or cost objective
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200.430 Compensation – Personal
Services
• If use budget estimates (estimates determined before
services are performed) must:
– Have system that produces reasonable approximation of
actual activity
– Enter significant changes into records in a timely manner
– Follow processes to review after-the-fact interim charges
to estimate and ensure final amount charged is accurate,
allowable and properly allocated
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200.430 Compensation – Personal
Services
• For blended funding:
– May account for combined use based on performance
metrics if all involved federal awarding agencies approve
– Must submit request for waiver of standards based on
documentation that:
• Describes method of charging costs,
• Relates charging of costs to a specific activity applicable to
all funding sources and
• Is based on quantifiable measures of the activity in relation
to time charged
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200.430 Compensation – Personal
Services
• If don’t meet documentation standards, may be
required to submit PARs
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200.431 Compensation – Fringe
Benefits
• Cost of fringe benefits for leave (annual, FMLA, sick,
holidays, court, military, administrative, etc.)
allowable if:
– Provided for under established written leave polices,
– Equitably allocated to all related activities including
federal awards, and
– Accounting basis (cash or accrual) selected for costing
each type is consistently followed
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200.432 Conferences
• Cost of identifying, but not providing, locally
available dependent-care resources are allowable
• Conference hosts/sponsors must exercise discretion
and judgment in ensuring that conference costs are
appropriate, necessary and managed in a manner
that minimizes costs to the award
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200.433 Contingency Provisions
• Contingency reserves still unallowable
• Some contingency amounts allowed to be explicitly
included in budget estimates to extent they are
necessary to improve the precision of those
estimates
– Estimates must be based on broadly accepted cost
estimating methodologies and accepted by funding source
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200.434 Contributions and Donations
• Depreciation on donated assets is permitted as long
as the donated property is not counted towards cost
sharing or matching
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200.436 Depreciation
• No more use allowance
– When replacing use allowance with depreciation method,
depreciation must be computed as if asset has been
depreciated over its entire life
• Charges must be supported by adequate property
records and physical inventories (taken at least every
2 yrs) to ensure assets useable, used and needed
• Must maintain records showing that adequate
depreciation taken
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200.437 Employee Health and
Welfare Costs
• Employee morale cost removed
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200.438 Entertainment Costs
• Entertainment costs (includes amusement,
diversion and social activities) are allowable if:
– Have a programmatic purpose and
– Are authorized either in the approved budget or with
prior written approval from federal agency
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200.439 Equipment and Other Capital
Expenditures
• Removed language stating that equipment and other
capital expenditures are unallowable as indirect
costs
• If instructed by federal awarding agency to dispose
of or transfer equipment, then cost of such disposal
or transfer is allowable
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200.441 Fines, Penalties, Damages
and Other Settlements
• Other settlement costs and damages resulting from
violations of, alleged violations of or failure to
comply with laws and regs are unallowable except
when incurred as a result of compliance with Federal
award provisions or with prior written approval from
the awarding agency
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200.422 Fundraising and Investment
Management Costs
• Fundraising costs for meeting federal program
objectives are allowable with prior written approval
• Investment counsel and staff costs (currently
unallowable) are allowable when associated with
investments covering pension, self insurance or
other funds which include federal participation
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200.447 Insurance & Indemnification
• Reserves covering the risk of loss or damage to
Federal property, to the extent that entity is liable
for such loss or damage, are unallowable unless
specifically required or approved
• Reserves for self–insurance programs (worker’s
comp, unemployment insurance, severance pay) still
allowable but more criteria to meet
• Insurance refunds must be credited against
insurance costs in the year the refund is received
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200.449 Interest
• Includes general statement that “financing costs
(including interest) to acquire, construct, or replace
capital assets are allowable, subject to the
conditions in this section”
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200.449 Interest
• Following conditions must be considered when
determining allowability of interest:
– Entity uses capital assets for federal award
– Facilities/equip. costs limited to FMV via unrelated party
– Financing obtained via an arm’s length transaction
– Interest costs result from least expensive financing alternative
– Interest costs expensed/capitalized in accordance with GAAP
– Earnings generated by investment of borrowed funds used to
offset current interest costs
– Conditions for debt arrangements over $1 million to purchase or
construct facilities are followed
– Interest from fully depreciated asset is unallowable
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200.451 Losses on Other Awards or
Contracts
• Any excess costs over authorized funding levels
transferred from any award or contract to another
award or contract is unallowable
• All losses are not allowable indirect costs and are
required to be included in the appropriate indirect
cost rate base for allocation to indirect costs
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200.454 Memberships, Subscriptions
& Professional Activity Costs
• Costs of membership in organizations whose primary
purpose is lobbying are unallowable
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200.460 Proposal Costs
• Proposal costs include:
– Preparing bids, proposals, or applications on potential
Federal/non-Federal awards or projects, including
development of support data
– Successful and unsuccessful bids
• Current costs treated as indirect (F&A) and allocated
to all entity activities
• No past proposal costs will be allocable to current
accounting period
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200.462 Rearrangement and
Reconversion Costs
• Must charge costs incurred for ordinary and normal
rearrangement and alteration of facilities as indirect
• May now charge costs for special arrangements and
alterations specifically for an award as direct
– Must still obtain prior approval from federal awarding
agency but now have option of obtaining from passthrough entity
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200.471 Termination Costs
• Removed indirect costs related to salaries and wages
from the list of allowable settlement expenses
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200.472 Training & Education Costs
• Now just says that the cost of training and education
provided for employee development is allowable
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200.474 Travel Costs
• Per diem rates still a default if no acceptable travel
policy in place
• Method(s) used for charging costs must be in
accordance with written travel reimbursement policy
• To charge travel costs directly to a Federal award
documentation must justify that:
– Participation is necessary to the Federal award; and
– Costs are reasonable and consistent with established travel
policy
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200.474 Travel Costs
• May use federal funds to cover temporary
dependent care costs that directly result from travel
to conferences as long as the costs are:
– A direct result of the individual’s travel for the award,
– Consistent with documented travel policy, and
– Only temporary during the travel period
• Travel costs for dependents are unallowable
– Except for travel for 6 months or more with prior approval
from federal awarding agency
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Subpart F – Audit Requirements
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Audit Requirements
• Threshold for Single Audit requirement raised to
$750,000. § 200.501.
• See table in § 200.518 with threshold values to
determine where federal programs fall in terms of risk
and required audit level. Determination of Type A
programs will now be based on higher value of
$750,000.
• To qualify for low-risk status, grantee must use GAAP
unless another basis is required by state law. §
200.520.
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Audit Requirements
• The threshold for reporting questioned costs has been
raised to $25,000 for major programs. § 200.516.
• All audits will be available for public inspection on the
internet, on the website of the Federal Audit
Clearinghouse. § 200.512.
• If additional audits required then fed. awarding
agency or state gov. must first review the Federal
Audit Clearinghouse for existing audits and rely on the
information there to the extent possible. § 200.503.
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Audit Requirements
• Audit due dates that fall on Saturday, Sunday, or
Federal holiday, are due the following business day.
§ 200.512.
• In addition to the sanctions provided for under A133 for noncompliance with audit requirements the
federal agency or state may now also initiate
suspension or debarment proceedings. §§ 200.505,
200.338.
• When selecting an auditor, the grantee must also
review peer review reports. § 200.509.
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CSBG Organizational Standards from
a Legal Perspective
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Background
• Administration CSBG budget language
• Organizational Standards Center of Excellence grant to nat’l
Community Action Partnership
• Also, Urban Institute contract for performance standards and
ROMA Next Generation grant - NASCSP
• CAA network input
• Pilot testing in states
• Submission to OCS, including implementation
recommendations
• Proposed CSBG reauthorization legislation
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CSBG Organizational Standards
• 56 standards developed by CSBG Organizational Standards
Center of Excellence (COE) and issued in proposed form by
federal Office of Community Services (OCS)
– OCS draft information memorandum (IM)
http://www.communityactionpartnership.com/storage/cap/documents
/OSCOE/csbg_organizational_standards_im_draft.pdf
• Standards established to ensure CAAs have capacity to provide
high-quality services to low-income individuals & communities
• Draft IM: OCS expects states to report on establishment and
implementation of standards no later than FY2016
– States to work with CAAs to increase accountability
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CSBG Organizational Standards
Organized into three thematic groups
Maximum
Feasible
Participation
Vision and
Direction
Operations and
Accountability
Consumer input
and involvement
Organizational
leadership
Human
resource
management
Community
engagement
Board
governance
Financial
operations and
oversight
Community
assessment
Strategic
planning
Data and
analysis
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Objectives of Organizational
Standards
• Current iteration - not “excellence” but minimum
threshold for compliance and monitoring by states
• National standard or state-by-state adoption?
• Next step – one to five scale
– CAAs would use for self –improvement
– States would use for training and technical assistance,
recommendations for best practices
• OCS would like to use as basis for competition if
legislative change
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Implementation of Standards
• Voluntary Adoption
– By CAAs
– By States
•
•
•
•
Follow state law on adoption of rules and regulations
Incorporate as standards into contracts
Provide sufficient lead time
Provide training and technical assistance
– OCS role in encouraging adoption
• Information Memorandum
• Mandatory Adoption
– Congress would need to amend federal CSBG Act
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Some Leadership Standards
4.1
Board has reviewed mission statement in last 5 years and
assured that:
• Mission addresses poverty; and
• Programs and services are in alignment with mission
4.4
Written succession plan is in place for CEO/ED,
approved by Board, that contains procedures for
covering emergency/unplanned, short-term
absence of 3 months or less, and outlines process for
filling a permanent vacancy (Private CAAs)
• Public CAAs: Adhere to local government policies re interim
appointments and filling permanent positions
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Some Governance Standards
5.1
Board is structured in compliance with CSBG Act:
• At least one third democratically-selected
representatives of low-income community;
• One-third local elected officials (or their
representatives); and
• Balance from major groups and interests in community
5.2
Board has written procedures that document
democratic selection process for low-income
board members adequate to assure that they
are representative of low-income community
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Some Governance Standards
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.8
Bylaws have been reviewed by an attorney
within past 5 years
Documentation that board members receive and
review bylaws at least every two years
Board meets in accordance with frequency and
quorum requirements and fills board vacancies
as set out in bylaws
Each board member has signed conflict of
interest policy within past 2 years
Board members provided with training on duties
and responsibilities within past 2 years
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Some Human Resources Standards
7.1
7.2
7.4
The CAA has written personnel policies reviewed
by attorney and approved by Board within past 5
years (private CAA)
The CAA makes available Employee Handbook
(or personnel policies in cases without a
Handbook) to all staff and notifies staff of any
changes
Board conducts performance appraisal of
CEO/Executive Director within each calendar
year (private CAA)
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Some Human Resources Standards
7.5
Board reviews and approves CEO/Executive
Director compensation within every calendar
year
• Public CAA – Compensation of CAA Department head is
made available according to local government
procedure
7.7
The CAA has a whistleblower policy approved by
Board within past 5 years
• Public CAA – Provides copy of any existing local
government agency whistleblower policy to tripartite
board at time of orientation
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Using Legal Resources: Attorneys
• Knowledgeable local counsel is essential
• Procurement process
• Key areas of expertise:
– Employment and labor law
– Nonprofit organizations
– Real estate and contract law
• Attorney on board of directors, or as consultant to
board, required for Head Start grantees
• Understand contract and billing structure
• Pro bono services
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Legal Resources: Training and Policies
• Use attorneys or other qualified professional to conduct
training on human resources issues
– For example, discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour law
• Consider in-person on-site or off-site training, videos, online
training, webinars, newsletters
– CAPLAW website has many free recorded webinars and
content on HR issues
• Communicate training throughout organization
• Use attorneys to review or draft and update personnel
policies
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Legal Resources: Monitoring
• Use attorneys and other experts to prepare for key
reviews, like Head Start
• Seek advice of attorneys in responding to monitoring
and audit findings, cost disallowances
• Attorneys may be able to provide specific authority
for your position and assist in persuasive arguments
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Using Legal Resources:
Nonprofit Status and Bylaws
• Legal advice in in creating structure, and ensuring compliance
with law, for new ventures and affiliations
– New legal entities, preserving tax-exempt status, mergers
– Determine status of existing grants
• Legal review of bylaws and board policies
– Organizational standards: every 5 years
– Update to be consistent with new laws
– Bring into line with changing practices and operations of
CAA
– Review board size and structure
– Conflict of interest and whistleblower policies
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Ensuring Compliance: What Else?
• Tone at the top
– Oversight role of board
– Culture of compliance
– Board and ED setting the right tone by word and example
• Systems are set up, implemented, followed, and
monitored
• Written policies
• Competent auditors
• Assigning responsibility
• Holding staff accountable
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Some Relevant CAPLAW Resources
• Visit www.caplaw.org
–
–
–
–
Exemplary Legal Practices and Policies Guidebook
Top-Notch CAA Toolkit: Governance and Financial Issues
CAPLAW Bylaws Toolkit
Employer Smarts program
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